Dimensional Keeper: All My Skills Are at Level 100 Chapter 1642 Importance of the Last Trial!

"As all of you are already aware, the cultivation of every participant in the Cosmic Ascension Conference will be restricted to the peak of the Law Refinement Realm," Elder Cael's voice boomed, carrying effortlessly across the entire assembly square.

A hushed current of whispers flowed through the assembled multitude, though the majority of the disciples had been apprised of this regulation beforehand. Nevertheless, hearing it reiterated in such a grand setting imbued the reality of it with a palpable weight.

"This trial will meticulously replicate that precise condition," Elder Cael proclaimed, his tone resolute and measured. "It shall afford each of you the opportunity to personally grapple with the implications of contending under such constraints, thereby preparing you for the trials that lie in wait."

As his pronouncement concluded, he elevated his hand slightly, and the very fabric of space above the square began to ripple and distort, as if a colossal entity was being summoned into existence.

Moments later, an immense, sprawling mural materialized in the heavens.

It unfurled with breathtaking grandeur, dwarfing any conventional canvas, resembling a fragment of an alien world meticulously unfolded and suspended in the ethereal expanse for all to witness. Adorning the mural was the image of a dense, primordial forest, its colossal trees casting elongated shadows that appeared to writhe and undulate, independent of any discernible breeze. The further one's gaze penetrated its depths, the more an unnerving sensation took hold, as if the forest itself harbored a sentience, observing all below.

It held no semblance of a mere static depiction.

It radiated an aura of profound reality.

"This artifact," Elder Cael remarked, his attention fixed upon the painted woodland, "is a treasure recently acquired by the Celestial Forge Pavilion from an archeological excavation of an ancient ruin."

His enunciation momentarily faltered before he resumed.

"It is known as the Soul Sealing Painting."

The instant its appellation was uttered, a perceptible shift rippled through the assembled elders. Some narrowed their eyes in appraisal, while others instinctively drew themselves to their full height, their recognition of its extraordinary nature unequivocally apparent.

"Within this artifact, an individual's soul can be meticulously sealed," Elder Cael elucidated, his voice deepening with gravity. "Once ensnared, all existence within operates in strict adherence to a predetermined set of regulations. Whether one achieves life or succumbs to death, whether one attains victory or embraces failure, all outcomes are dictated by these pre-established parameters."

He allowed his statement to resonate before proceeding.

"In essence, it functions as a self-contained cosmos."

Max's gaze remained intently fixed upon the depicted forest as he absorbed the Elder's words. He sensed an inherent anomaly emanating from within its painted confines, a subtle perturbation that transcended the typical ebb and flow of Qi or aura, originating from a far more profound stratum. It seemed to resonate with a distinct frequency to his own soul, suggesting the painting was not merely an object, but a conduit to another realm.

"The operative regulations instituted within this Soul Sealing Painting have been precisely calibrated," Elder Cael continued, his tone unwavering, "to mirror those stipulated for the Cosmic Ascension Conference."

A wave of astonishment surged through the gathered disciples once more.

"For those among you unacquainted with its structure, the Cosmic Ascension Conference unfolds across two distinct stages," he announced, lifting his hand once more, as if to illustrate the sequential progression.

"The inaugural stage is meticulously designed to identify and enthrone the foremost one hundred contenders."

"The subsequent stage serves the purpose of determining the ultimate champion from that elite cadre of one hundred."

His gaze traversed the assembly, and even those who had previously engaged in quiet discussion fell into an attentive hush, subdued by the sheer immensity of his pronouncements.

"Consequently, the first round takes the format of a grand battle royale," he elaborated, his delivery placid yet imbued with an undeniable aura of command. "This contest shall persist without cessation until the number of active combatants is diminished to a mere hundred souls."

A profound and heavy stillness descended upon the entire square.

"It is imperative that you comprehend," Elder Cael added, his expression assuming a heightened solemnity, "that the Cosmic Ascension Conference convenes luminaries and prodigies drawn from every corner of the vast Divine Realm. The participant count does not merely number in the thousands or even the millions; it frequently escalates into the trillions."

Even those who possessed prior knowledge of this staggering scale found their countenances shifting, the sheer immensity of the undertaking sufficient to profoundly unsettle anyone who truly contemplated its scope.

"Envision, if you will, a theater of operations of such unimaginable magnitude," he articulated deliberately. "A battle royale where trillions commence the struggle, and only a select hundred are privileged to emerge."

Max remained quiescent, yet his mind had already begun to construct a vivid mental tableau. Unending conflict. Innumerable adversaries. An absence of sanctuary. No respite afforded. Mere survival would present an arduous undertaking, let alone transcending all others to claim ultimate victory.

"Such a trial," Elder Cael stated, his voice resonating with undeniable truth, "transcends the experiential purview of the vast majority of your current capabilities."

He then redirected his attention back towards the monumental painting suspended in the sky.

"However, such astronomical numbers are rendered unnecessary for the parameters of this specific trial," he conveyed, his tone reverting to its former composed demeanor.

A subtle, almost knowing smile graced his lips.

"This Soul Sealing Painting possesses a capacity well beyond that required to orchestrate a battle royale for a circumscribed contingent of participants. For the context of this trial, it will admirably accommodate approximately one hundred of your number."

His words assimilated into the consciousness of every individual present.

A diminished arena.

A reduced number of combatants.

Yet, the fundamental rules remained unaltered.

The ultimate objective remained the same.

The same brutal elimination awaited.

Max’s lips tilted into a slight smirk as his eyes settled on the forest depicted within the painting.

Now armed with knowledge of what lay ahead, his internal excitement intensified.

"The final stage of the Smelting Trial… it is known as the Survival Trial," Elder Cael announced, his voice steady but imbued with a gravity that settled heavily upon each disciple present.

Instantly, the square’s atmosphere underwent a complete transformation. The previous eagerness and curiosity remained, yet they were now interwoven with a more somber element: palpable tension, a prickling anticipation, and an undeniable undercurrent of danger.

Elder Cael’s gaze scanned the assembled disciples before he resumed speaking.

"A total of seven hundred and forty-two disciples are participating in this concluding round," he stated, enunciating each word with deliberate precision. "And this trial will only see its conclusion… when that number is narrowed down to just fifty."

He added, "Perishing within the painting signifies elimination, and your soul will promptly return to your physical body."

A profound silence immediately enveloped the area.

Even those who had been murmuring moments before fell silent, the true implication of his words slowly dawning on them.

"In simpler terms," Elder Cael continued without missing a beat, "you are not contending for victory in the conventional sense. Your sole objective is to survive."

Though his voice remained level, the message resonated deeply in every disciple’s consciousness.

"You must endure within the Soul Sealing Painting until the participant count is reduced to fifty."

The very simplicity of this rule rendered it exceptionally harsh.

No intricate conditions were set. No concealed scoring mechanics were in play. No external arbiters were involved.

Survive… or face elimination.

That was the entirety of it.

Some disciples instinctively clenched their fists. Others exchanged apprehensive glances. A select few, however, had already started to grin, their eyes alight with an eager fervor as if this very challenge was what they had been anticipating.

Max stood amidst them, his demeanor as serene as ever, but a distinct sharpness had entered his gaze.

Seven hundred and forty-two participants.

Fifty survivors.

This implied that over six hundred would ultimately fall.

"This is far more akin to the actual Conference than I had initially surmised," he mused, a faint glimmer igniting in his eyes.

High above, Elder Cael raised his hand, gesturing towards the colossal painting that hung suspended in the sky, resembling a portal to an alternate reality.

"Now," he declared, his tone conveying an irrefutable finality, "all participants, advance."

His finger remained fixed on the Soul Sealing Painting, its depicted forest appearing more ominous than before, as though poised to engulf them entirely.

"Take your positions before the painting," he commanded, "and ready yourselves for the ultimate, final trial of the Smelting Trial."

For a fleeting moment, not a single person moved.

Then—

One disciple broke the stillness and stepped forward.

Then another followed.

Soon, the entire assembly began to stir, hundreds of figures progressing towards the painting, their expressions a spectrum of emotions – from exhilaration to dread, from resolute determination to chilling apathy.

Lucia drew nearer to Max, her earlier excitement now tempered with a newfound seriousness.

"All the best, Max," she said with a smile.

"I have no need for it, but thank you," Max replied coolly.

"I will strive my utmost to secure a spot within the top 50 this time," Isabella declared, approaching him as well, seemingly addressing herself as much as him.

Max offered a nod. "The two of you will manage. Just exercise caution and avoid engaging in unnecessary confrontations, especially when others are present."

Both Lucia and Isabella inclined their heads in agreement.